Kinnordy Rivaldo, seen here with Chris Burton, is now ridden by American rider Tiana Coudray
After a horror eventing season in 2012 due to the weather, there were some groans of despair recently when it seemed that the rain was going to spoil play yet again. However, the sun shone at most of the events this weekend where the UK based eventing fraternity was out in force. There were plenty of big names stretching their horses’ legs after the winter break at Isleham in Cambridgeshire (BE90 – Open Intermediate), Moreton in Dorset (BE80 – Open Novice) and Aston-le-Walls, Northamptonshire (BE80 – BE100 Open); some even made it to two events!
ISLEHAM, 02-03/03/201
Despite the recent wet weather Isleham was confident that their track would hold up due to the unique ground; according to their description of the course “The unique going, black peat means that we do not have to cancel and if it gets wet, the ground is never holding”
Top British riders Piggy French and Pippa Funnell headed here this weekend to kick off their season and picked up many placings in the lower classes, including the BE100 won by Pippa on the 6yo mare Billy Cuckoo, winning on her dressage score of 28.00
Pippa also scored a win in the main class, the Open Intermediate riding Mirage d’Elle with Piggy French and Tinka’s Time in second and Zara Phillips with Lord Lauries in third. This class was a ‘Who’s Who’ of British Eventing with Ruth Edge, Emily Llewellyn and Oliver Townend rounding out the top placings but New Zealand rider Jonelle Richards took seventh and eighth placings on The Deputy and Flintstar. Other Kiwis competing in this class included Jonelle’s new husband, Tim Price and the man himself, Sir Mark Todd (seems strange to see the title in Results’ lists!)
The Australian horse Kinnordy Rivaldo, previously ridden by Chris Burton and owned by Tina Stafford, is now being ridden by American rider Tiana Coudray and they their first start together at Isleham. They unfortunately retired on cross country on this occasion but no doubt we’ll be hearing a lot more about them in the future (we do like our Aussie horses whatever flag they now have on their saddlecloth!)
MORETON, 02-03/03/2013
William Fox-Pitt’s 6yo gelding Top Biats won the BE100 on his dressage score of 21.0; on his website (recently revamped - check it out at www.foxpitteventing.co.uk ) William says “Top Biats gave the team the first win of the season in his BE100 section. He did a lovely test to score 21 and jumped a superb double clear to finish on his dressage score. It was very exciting for his new owners Judy & Jeremy Skinner and David & Margie Hall who bought him over the winter. He has developed a great deal during the winter and is looking superb”
In the BE100 Open, it was great to see Australian rider (and one of our bloggers) Sammi McLeod took the honours on Sceptre de Moreton, a 7yo gelding by Versailles on a score of 24.
There were lots of other big names at this Dorset event including Andrew Nicholson, Mary King, Lucinda Fredericks and Mark Todd (busy man!). In the Open Novice, won by Cindy Rawson and Volien, Emily King took third place on Brookleigh, the Australian owned horse previously ridden by Clayton Fredericks. We recently wondered which British silver medallist called King would be competing Brookleigh after his move their stable in Devon – I guess we now know! Andrew Nicholson on Philanderer II, another horse we mentioned recently, was sixth in this class.
ASTON-LE-WALLS (1) 02-03/03/2013
Australian riders Bill Levett chose to start their season at Aston-le-Walls; Paul picked up sixth in the BE100 (won by Kitty King on Bondi Beach – should be an Australian horse!) on Boston JRP and Bill a fourth in the BE Open on Silver Night Lady.
Oliver Townend put in an appearance here too for several placings – another one who has lots of stamina!
This week the UK eventing action moves to Oasby, Lincolnshire; Tweseldown, Hampshire and Somerford Park, Cheshire while in Australia we head to the first CIC event of the year at Tonimbuk Horse Trials - preview coming up soon
